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Government Stats: compare key data on Albania & Republic of Macedonia

Definitions

  • Administrative divisions: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.
  • Constitution: The dates of adoption, revisions, and major amendments to a nation's constitution
  • Country name > Conventional long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Executive branch > Cabinet: Cabinet includes the official name for any body of high-ranking advisers roughly comparable to a U.S. Cabinet. Also notes the method for selection of members.
  • Executive branch > Chief of state: The name and title of any person or role roughly equivalent to a U.S. Chief of State. This means the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government
  • Executive branch > Elections: Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election
  • Executive branch > Head of government: Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government.
  • Government type: A description of the basic form of government (e.g., republic, constitutional monarchy, federal republic, parliamentary democracy, military dictatorship).
  • International organization participation: This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.
  • Judicial branch: The name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief description of the selection process for members.
  • Legal system: A brief description of the legal system's historical roots, role in government, and acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.
  • Political parties and leaders: Significant political organizations and their leaders.
  • Political pressure groups and leaders: Organizations with leaders involved in politics, but not standing for legislative election.
  • Suffrage: The age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted
  • Leaders > Prime minister: Government > Leaders > Prime minister
  • National symbol(s): A national symbol is a faunal, floral, or other abstract representation - or some distinctive object - that over time has come to be closely identified with a country or entity. Not all countries have national symbols; a few countries have more than one.
  • Flag description: A written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
  • Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days: Time required to start a business (days). Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Country name > Conventional short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Constitutional form: Constitutional form of government.
  • Transnational Issues > Disputes > International: This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.
  • National anthem: A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
  • Legislative branch > Election results: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Legislative branch > Elections: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Democracy and rights > Press freedom index: Compares countries by their degree of government censorship, according to the Press freedom index. This index, created by the non-governmental organization Reporters without borders (RWS), is ellaborated using data from an extensive annual survey sent to professional reporters throughout the world. The survey contains questions about the type and ownership of media present in the country, freedom of speech, violence exerted against reporters, election campaigns, access of political parties to the media, etc.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage: Percentage of seats held by women in country's national parliament or legislative houses.
  • Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. "
  • Executive branch > Election results: Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election (if any)
  • Judicial branch > Subordinate courts: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
  • Basis of executive legitimacy: Basis of executive legitimacy.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs: This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels.
    Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).
    Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.
    Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.
    Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).
    Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.
    Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual.
    Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).
    Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
    Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.
    Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
    Marijuana is the dried leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
    Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in Southwest Asia and Africa.
    Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussin AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics ...
    Full definition
  • Country name > Local short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press: Compares countries by freedom of the press. The lower the score, the more free the press of that country is. The scores are taken from the Freedom of the Press Index, elaborated by Freedom House, self-defined as "an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world". The data used in the index come from an annual survey of media independence in 197 countries and territories, assessing the degree of print, broadcast, and internet freedom in each of them.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
  • Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote: Percentage of votes at the most recent national election that went to parties with a nationalist ideology.
  • Democracy > Civil and political liberties: Civil and political liberties
    Units: Index Ranging from 7 (High Levels of Liberties) to 1 (Low
    Units: This is the average of two indicators - civil liberties and political liberties.
  • National holiday: The primary national day of celebration - often independence day.
  • Capital > Geographic coordinates: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Leaders > President: Government > Leaders > President
  • Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
  • Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient.
  • Red tape > Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property (days). Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Politics: Country politics.
  • International law organization participation: This entry includes information on a country's acceptance of jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and of the International Criminal Court (ICCt); 55 countries have accepted ICJ jurisdiction with reservations and 11 have accepted ICJ jurisdiction without reservations; 114 countries have accepted ICCt jurisdiction. Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups explains the differing mandates of the ICJ and ICCt.
  • Parliament > Seats held by men: Number of seats held by men in country's naitonal parliament or legislative houses.
  • Country name > Local long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency (years). Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
  • Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses.
  • Leaders > President > Summary: Government > Leaders > President > Summary
  • Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel: Date on which Israel was officially recognized as a state. Note that some countries had a “de facto” recognition in place long before the legal recognition.
  • Democracy > Democratic institutions rating: Democratic institutions
    Units: Scale ranging from -10 (autocratic) to +10 (democratic)
  • UN membership date: Date of United Nations Membership
  • Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number: Procedures to build a warehouse (number). Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers.
  • Capital > Name: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Legal origin: Legal origin identifies the origin of the Company Law or Commercial Code in each country
  • Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days: Time required to get electricity (days). Time required to get electricity is the number of days to obtain a permanent electricity connection. The measure captures the median duration that the electricity utility and experts indicate is necessary in practice, rather than required by law, to complete a procedure.
  • Legislature (parliament) > People per member: Number of people each member of the legislature represents on average. The number of members of the legislature is the sum of the members of all chambers of parliament, if applicable.
  • Capital > Time difference: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • International relations: Country international relations.
  • Leaders > Prime minister > Profile: Government > Leaders > Prime minister > Profile
  • Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million: Time required to get electricity (days). Time required to get electricity is the number of days to obtain a permanent electricity connection. The measure captures the median duration that the electricity utility and experts indicate is necessary in practice, rather than required by law, to complete a procedure. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members: Members of the lower house of the legislature or of the only chamber in a unicameral system.
  • Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state: Head(s) of state.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Foreign relations > Recognition of Israel notes: Notes and remarks about the date on which Israel was officially recognized as a state.
  • Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
  • Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Leaders > President > Profile: Government > Leaders > President > Profile
  • Role of head of state: Head of state.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote): This list shows the percentage of votes obtained by nationalist parties across Europe at the latest  elections held in their respective countries. Note that the percentages show the votes from all the parties combined, and only for general elections (some parties may obtain a quite higher percentage in regional elections). Nationalist parties usually hold right-wing populist views, and among their common demands are a higher control of immigration, extended social/labor rights for country nationals, and a restriction of islamic customs -such as the veil or the construction of mosques-, though their ideologies and goals vary from country to country. Some parties have as their main goal the seggregation of a region from its parent country (with examples in Scotland, Catalonia and Northern Ireland). Most of nationalist parties with elected members in the European Parliament belong to the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group.
  • Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women per million people: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Leaders > Prime minister > Summary: Government > Leaders > Prime minister > Summary
  • Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million: Procedures to enforce a contract (number). Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million: Time required to start a business (days). Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million: Time required to register property (days). Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million: Procedures to build a warehouse (number). Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Capital > Daylight saving time: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties: Absolute number of votes at the most recent national election that went to parties with a nationalist ideology.
  • Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador: Name of ambassador to the USA.
  • Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people: This entry is derived from Government > Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons, which includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state. Figures expressed per thousand people for the same year.
  • Country name > Former: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons: This entry is derived from Government > Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons, which includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote: The total number of votes cast in the relevant election. Total vote includes valid and invalid votes, as well as blank votes in cases where these are separated from invalid votes. More information on valid, invalid and blank votes can be found at aceproject.org
  • Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament: Number of members of the legislature (sum of members of all chambers of parliament where applicable).
  • Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > %: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%). Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber held by women.
  • Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number: Procedures to enforce a contract (number). Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer.
  • Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Management time dealing with officials > % of management time: Management time dealing with officials (% of management time). Time dealing with officials is the percentage of management time in a given week spent on requirements imposed by government regulations (taxes, customs, labor regulations, licensing and registration).
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Parliament > Seats held by men per million people: Number of seats held by men in country's naitonal parliament or legislative houses. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo: Date on which Kosovo was officially recognized as a state.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members: Members of the lower (or sole) house.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

STAT Albania Republic of Macedonia HISTORY
Administrative divisions 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore 71 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Caska, Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Grad Skopje, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vrapciste, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
Constitution several previous; latest approved by parliament 21 October 1998, adopted by popular referendum 22 November 1998, promulgated 28 November 1998; amended 2008, 2012 adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001, 2005, and in 2009
Country name > Conventional long form Republic of Albania Republic of Macedonia
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
Executive branch > Cabinet Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by parliament Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly
Executive branch > Chief of state President of the Republic Bujar NISHANI (since 24 July 2012) President Gjorge IVANOV (since 12 May 2009)
Executive branch > Elections president is elected by the Assembly for a five-year term and is eligible for a second term (a candidate needs a three-fifths majority of the Assembly's 140 votes (84 votes) in one of the first three rounds of voting or a simple majority in round four or five to become president; up to five rounds of voting are held, if necessary); four election rounds held between 30 May and 11 June 2012 (next election to be held in 2017); prime minister appointed by the president on the proposal of the party or coalition of parties that has the majority of seats in the Assembly president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); two-round election: first round held on 22 March 2009, second round held on 5 April 2009 (next to be held in March 2014); prime minister elected by the Assembly following legislative elections; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister
Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister Edi Rama (since 10 September 2013) Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August 2006)
Government type parliamentary democracy parliamentary democracy
International organization participation BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EITI (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch Constitutional Court consists of 9 members appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly who serve 9-year terms (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term); the High Court members appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly for a 9-year term Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; Judicial Council
Legal system civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" prevails civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Political parties and leaders <strong>Alliance for Employment, Prosperity, and Integration or APMI (coalition of 25 centrist and center-right parties) [Sali BERISHA]: </strong><br />Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]<br />New Democracy Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]<br />Party for Justice, Integration and Unity or PDIU [Shpetim IDRIZI]<br />Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]<br /><br /><strong>Alliance for a European Albania or ASHE (coalition of 37 opposition parties from far left to right wing) [Edi RAMA]:</strong><br />Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskel MILO]<br />Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]<br />Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]<br />Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]<br />Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]<br /><br /><strong>other parties:</strong><br />New Democratic Spirit or FRD [Bamir TOPI] Albanian Democratic Union or BDSh [Bardhyl MAHMUTI]<br />Democratic League of Bosniaks in Macedonia [Rafet MUMINOVIC]<br />Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia or DPSM [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]<br />Democratic Party of the Albanians or PDSh [Menduh THACI]<br />Democratic Party of Turks of Macedonia or DPTM [Kenan HASIPI]<br />Democratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOM [Liljana POPOVSKA]<br />Democratic Union or DS [Pavle TRAJANOV]<br />Democratic Union for Integration or BDI [Ali AHMETI]<br />Dosoinstvo (Diginity) [Stojance ANGELOV]<br />Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]<br />Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI]<br />Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Andrej ZENOVSKI]<br />Liberal Party of Macedonia or LP [Ivon VELICKOVSKI]<br />Movement for Turkish National Union [Erdogan SARAC]<br />National Democratic Revival or RDK [Rufi OSMANI]<br />New Democracy or ND [Imer SELMANI]<br />New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]<br />Party for Democratic Action of Macedonia or SDA [Avdija PEPIC]<br />Party for the Total Emancipation of Roma or PCER [Samka IBRAIMOVSKI]<br />Party of United Democrats of Macedonia or PODEM [Zivko JANKULOVSKI]<br />Party on European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]<br />Serbian Progressive Party in Macedonia or SPSM [Dragisha MILETIC]<br />Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]<br />Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVNAOV DZINGO]<br />Union of Roma of Macedonia or SR [Amdi BAJRAM]<br />United for Macedonia or OM [Ljube BOSKOSKI]
Political pressure groups and leaders Red and Black Alliance [Kreshnik SPAHIU]<br />Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]<br />Mjaft Movement [Elton KACIDHJA]<br />Omonia [Vasil BOLLANO]<br />Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA] Federation of Free Trade Unions [Mirjana ANDREVSKA]<br />Federation of Trade Unions [Zivko MITREVSKI]<br />Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture [Jakim NEDELKOV]
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Leaders > Prime minister Edi Rama Nikola Gruevski
National symbol(s) double-headed eagle eight-rayed sun
Flag description red with a black two-headed eagle in the center; the design is claimed to be that of 15th-century hero George Castriota SKANDERBEG, who led a successful uprising against the Turks that resulted in a short-lived independence for some Albanian regions (1443-78); an unsubstantiated explanation for the eagle symbol is the tradition that Albanians see themselves as descendants of the eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shkypetars," which translates as "sons of the eagle" a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field; the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days 4.5
Ranked 176th. 2 times more than Republic of Macedonia
2
Ranked 185th.

Country name > Conventional short form Albania Macedonia
Constitutional form Republic Republic
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International none Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008; Greece continues to reject the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia
National anthem <strong>name: </strong>"Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU <strong>name: </strong>"Denes Nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI
Legislative branch > Election results percent of vote by party- PS 41.12%, PD 30.41%, LSI 10.44%, PR 3.04%, PDIU 2.59%, other 12.4%; seats by party- PS 66, PD 49, LSI 16, PDIU 4, PR 3, other 2 percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 39%, SDSM-led block 32.8%, BDI 10.2%, PDSh 5.9%, other 12.1%; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 56, SDSM-led block 42, BDI 15, PDSh 8, RDK 2
Legislative branch > Elections last held on 23 June 2013 (next to be held in 2017) last held on 5 June 2011 (next to be held by June 2015)
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index 30.88
Ranked 77th.
34.27
Ranked 63th. 11% more than Albania
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage 15.71%
Ranked 106th.
32.52%
Ranked 27th. 2 times more than Albania

Independence 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire) 8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
Executive branch > Election results Bujar NISHANI elected president on fourth round of voting; Assembly vote (for first three rounds three-fifths majority, 84 votes, required; fourth round, a simple majority of votes is required): Bujar NISHANI 73 votes Gjorge IVANOV elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV 63.1%, Ljubomir FRCKOSKI 36.9%
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance Courts of Appeal; Basic Courts
Basis of executive legitimacy Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and expanding cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement
Country name > Local short form Shqiperia Makedonija
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press 51
Ranked 87th.
54
Ranked 80th. 6% more than Albania
Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana Str. Samolilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 5
Ranked 134th. 3 times more than Republic of Macedonia
2
Ranked 183th.

Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote 0.3%
Ranked 4th.
28.9%
Ranked 1st. 96 times more than Albania
Democracy > Civil and political liberties 2.5
Ranked 88th.
3.5
Ranked 70th. 40% more than Albania
National holiday Independence Day, 28 November (1912) also known as Flag Day Independence Day, 8 September (1991); also known as National Day
Capital > Geographic coordinates 41 19 N, 19 49 E 42 00 N, 21 26 E
Leaders > President Bujar Nishani Gjorge Ivanov
Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly to serve single 9-year terms; chairman elected by the People's Assembly for single 3-year term; Court of Cassation judges, including the chairman, appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly to serve single, 9-year terms) Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Council, a 7-member body of legal professionals, and appointed by the Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the legislature for nonrenewable, 9-year terms
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient 3.7
Ranked 91st.
4.4
Ranked 52nd. 19% more than Albania

Red tape > Time required to register property > Days 33
Ranked 100th. 6% more than Republic of Macedonia
31
Ranked 101st.

Politics Edi Rama&#039;s Socialist Party won a landslide victory in the 2013 parliamentary election, ending eight years of conservative rule Centre-right PM Nikola Gruevski governs in coalition with a party representing the Albanian minority
International law organization participation has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Parliament > Seats held by men 118
Ranked 80th. 42% more than Republic of Macedonia
83
Ranked 116th.

Country name > Local long form Republika e Shqiperise Republika Makedonija
Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years 2
Ranked 104th. 11% more than Republic of Macedonia
1.8
Ranked 129th.

Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 1.58
Ranked 65th. 66% more than Republic of Macedonia
0.95
Ranked 85th.

Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Gilbert GALANXHI (since 5 January 2011) Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI (since 22 March 2007)
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery None None
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone [355] (4) 2247285 [389] (2) 310-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Alexander ARVIZU (since 10 November 2010) Ambassador Paul D. WOHLERS (since 11 August 2011)
Parliament > Seats held by women 22
Ranked 101st.
40
Ranked 57th. 82% more than Albania

Leaders > President > Summary Mr Nishani is a former interior minister President Gjorge Ivanov has made it his mission to improve relations with neighbouring Greece
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel None
None
Democracy > Democratic institutions rating 5
Ranked 79th.
6
Ranked 68th. 20% more than Albania
UN membership date 14 Dec. 1955 08 Apr. 1993
Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 22
Ranked 25th. 83% more than Republic of Macedonia
12
Ranked 130th.

Capital > Name Tirana (Tirane) Skopje
Legal origin <a href=/country/fr>French</a> <a href=/country/gm>German</a>
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days 177
Ranked 22nd. 65% more than Republic of Macedonia
107
Ranked 79th.

Legislature (parliament) > People per member 22,643
Ranked 92nd. 33% more than Republic of Macedonia
17,072
Ranked 96th.
Capital > Time difference UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
International relations Albania joined Nato in 2009. The EU has yet to approve Albania&#039;s application for candidate status EU and Nato accession are ambitions. EU candidacy is frozen amid a dispute with Greece over use of the name Macedonia
Leaders > Prime minister > Profile <p>Edi Rama became prime minister in September 2013, three months after elections in which his Socialist Party won a landslide victory that brought to an end eight years of conservative rule.</p> <p>Mr Rama&#039;s main campaign pledges were to revive Albania&#039;s ailing economy, combat widespread corruption and crime, and speed up the country&#039;s integration into the European Union.</p><p>The election was closely monitored by the EU, which has twice rejected Albania&#039;s membership application and warned that the poll would be &quot;a crucial test&quot; for its further progress towards integration in the bloc.</p> <p>The outcome of the previous election, which returned the centre-right Democratic Party to power in 2009 by an extremely slender margin, was hotly disputed by the Socialists, who refused to recognise the result and launched a campaign of mass protests and civil disobedience in support of demands for a recount.</p> <p>Mr Rama became the leader of the Socialists in 2005 and spearheaded the party&#039;s challenging of the 2009 election outcome. The dispute over the result appeared at times to be bringing the country to the edge of civil conflict, and became a significant obstacle to Albania&#039;s EU integration.</p> <p>His predecessor as prime minister, Sali Berisha, dominated the country&#039;s political scene for more than 20 years, but by 2013 the electorate appeared to have become tired of the lack of economic progress under Mr Berisha and his perceived failure to tackle organised crime.</p> <p>Edi Rama is a painter-turned-politician who studied at the School of Fine Arts in Paris and during the 1990s made his home in the French capital.</p> <p>On his return to Albania, he became minister of culture in the Socialist government of Fatos Nano in 1998.</p> <p>In 2000, he was elected mayor of Tirana - a position he held until 2011. As mayor, he set out to remake the impoverished capital into a lively modern city, and embarked on a number of controversial projects, one of which was to order the painting of many old buildings in what became known as Edi Rama colours - bright pink, yellow, green and violet.</p> <p>Mr Rama&#039;s critics claimed that he devoted too much attention to cosmetic changes and failed to get to grips with major problems such as the unreliability of basic services in Tirana.</p> <p>As prime minister, he faces many tough challenges. His pledge to improve living standards - in a country where many people depend heavily on financial aid from the large Albanian diaspora in Western Europe and the United States - will be especially difficult to realise.</p> <p>A fluent speaker of English, French and Italian, Mr Rama is described by observers as a dynamic man with a strong personality.</p> <p>The new cabinet that he presented to parliament at the beginning of his tenure consists of mostly youthful political newcomers and includes six women - an unprecedented step in Albania.</p> <p>Nikola Gruevski, leader of the centre-right VMRO-DPMNE, won a snap election in June 2011 - the party&#039;s third consecutive electoral victory.</p> <p>The early election followed an opposition walkout in Parliament, sparked by allegations that the government was interfering in the media.</p> <p>Following the 2011 election, Mr Gruevski formed a coalition government with Macedonia&#039;s largest Albanian party, the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), which had been his coalition partner since the previous election.</p> <p>Mr Gruevski said his priorities would be accession to the EU and Nato, fighting corruption and organised crime, boosting the economy and lowering unemployment.</p> <p>He said he was willing to continue political dialogue with Greece over the use of the name Macedonia. But this cause has not been helped by his party&#039;s nationalistic policy of &quot;ancient Macedonism&quot; or &quot;Antiquisation&quot;, in which ancient figures such as Alexander the Great and Philip of Macedon are claimed to be the forebears of modern Macedonians.</p> <p>Mr Gruevski first become prime minister after the July 2006 election, and his party went on to win early elections in 2008.</p> <p>The prime minister is a former World Bank economist and finance minister.</p>
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million 55.98
Ranked 47th.
71.71
Ranked 41st. 28% more than Albania

Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members 140
Ranked 67th. 17% more than Republic of Macedonia
120
Ranked 76th.
Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state 5
Ranked 72nd. The same as Republic of Macedonia
5
Ranked 82nd.
Foreign relations > Recognition of Israel notes title=Albania and Israel in Accord To Establish Diplomatic Ties|url= http://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/20/world/albania-and-israel-in-accord-to-establish-diplomatic-ties.html|accessdate=4 August 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=20 August 1991}}&lt;/ref&gt; Date given is the date full diplomatic relations were established.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days 525
Ranked 103th.
604
Ranked 72nd. 15% more than Albania

Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number 6
Ranked 78th.
7
Ranked 55th. 17% more than Albania

Leaders > President > Profile <p>Bujar Nishani was elected president by parliament in June 2012, replacing Bamir Topi when his mandate came to an end.</p> <p>The main opposition Socialist Party boycotted the vote, and Mr Nishani was the only candidate put forward by the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sali Berisha&#039;s Democratic Party. </p> <p>Albania had been mired in political crisis for three years since the Socialists accused the Democrats of electoral fraud after the June 2009 legislative polls, and the failure to agree a consensus presidential candidate marked a setback for European Union efforts to ease political tensions. Government and opposition leaders traded accusations of sabotage throughout the process, which went through several rounds. </p> <p>Mr Nishani, 46, was the country&#039;s interior minister at the time of his election. He is a graduate of Albania&#039;s military academy and holds degrees in law and European studies. </p> <p>The president, who serves a five-year term, has an important role as the head of the legal system and commander of the country&#039;s armed forces.</p> <p>Professor Gjorgje Ivanov was sworn in as Macedonia&#039;s fourth democratically-elected president on 12 May 2009, following his victory in the second round of the presidential election.</p> <p>Although he was put forward as a presidential candidate by the governing VMRO-DPMNE party, he is not a member.</p> <p>President Ivanov, who was born in 1960, has spent most of his professional life as a university law professor.</p> <p>A key priority of Mr Ivanov&#039;s presidency has been to resolve Macedonia&#039;s long-standing name dispute with Greece.</p> <p>His predecessor, Social Democrat Branko Crvenkovski, who was elected in 2004, won praise in the West for supporting reconciliation with the substantial Albanian minority.</p> <p>Macedonia&#039;s presidents are directly elected for a five-year term. The president appoints the prime minister, and legislative power is vested in parliament.</p>
Role of head of state Ceremonial Ceremonial
Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote) 0.3%
Ranked 4th.
28.9%
Ranked 1st. 96 times more than Albania
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million 1.17
Ranked 34th.
2.09
Ranked 23th. 79% more than Albania

Parliament > Seats held by women per million people 7.31
Ranked 52nd.
19.16
Ranked 20th. 3 times more than Albania

Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days 330
Ranked 13th. 4 times more than Republic of Macedonia
90
Ranked 159th.

Leaders > Prime minister > Summary Mr Rama was a charismatic mayor of Tirana before becoming prime minister Nikola Gruevski has family roots in the Greek region of Macedonia
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 12.33
Ranked 57th.
17.57
Ranked 48th. 42% more than Albania

Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million 1.42
Ranked 108th. 50% more than Republic of Macedonia
0.95
Ranked 121st.

Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million 10.44
Ranked 62nd.
20.42
Ranked 45th. 96% more than Albania

Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 6.98
Ranked 51st. 23% more than Republic of Macedonia
5.7
Ranked 54th.

Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million 104.76
Ranked 42nd. 2 times more than Republic of Macedonia
49.87
Ranked 60th.

Capital > Daylight saving time +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties 5,112
Ranked 40th.
438,138
Ranked 15th. 86 times more than Albania
Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador Galanxhi, Gilbert Gilbert Galanxhi Jolevski, Zoran Zoran Jolevski
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people 2.35
Ranked 10th. 5 times more than Republic of Macedonia
0.43
Ranked 26th.
Country name > Former People's Socialist Republic of Albania People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons 7,443
Ranked 18th. 8 times more than Republic of Macedonia
905
Ranked 41st.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population 2.04 million
Ranked 105th. 26% more than Republic of Macedonia
1.62 million
Ranked 111th.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote 2.47 million
Ranked 72nd. 99% more than Republic of Macedonia
1.24 million
Ranked 98th.
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament 140
Ranked 74th. 17% more than Republic of Macedonia
120
Ranked 82nd.
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > % 17.9%
Ranked 98th.
34.1%
Ranked 25th. 91% more than Albania

Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million 142.31
Ranked 65th.
316.78
Ranked 44th. 2 times more than Albania

Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX [355] (4) 2232222 [389] (2) 310-2499
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 39
Ranked 82nd. 5% more than Republic of Macedonia
37
Ranked 107th.

Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million 1.9
Ranked 55th.
3.32
Ranked 41st. 75% more than Albania

Red tape > Management time dealing with officials > % of management time 18.7%
Ranked 2nd. 29% more than Republic of Macedonia
14.5%
Ranked 9th.

Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone [1] (202) 223-4942 [1] (202) 667-0501
Parliament > Seats held by men per million people 39.18
Ranked 47th.
39.77
Ranked 45th. 1% more than Albania

Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX [1] (202) 628-7342 [1] (202) 667-2131
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo None
None
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000 629.93
Ranked 60th.
779.29
Ranked 20th. 24% more than Albania
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members 4
Ranked 134th. The same as Republic of Macedonia
4
Ranked 144th.

SOURCES: CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; British Broadcasting Corporation 2014; World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/).; Wikipedia: List of countries by system of government (Alphabetical list of countries); All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; Wikipedia: Censorship by country (Censorship by country) ("Press Freedom Index 2013" , Reporters Without Borders, 30 January 2013); United Nations Statistics Division; "2012 Freedom of the Press Data" , Freedom House, 1 May 2012; Wikipedia: List of active nationalist parties in Europe (National); Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2000-2001, New York: Freedom House, 2001; World Economic Forum, Global Competiveness Report and data files.; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/). Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; Wikipedia: International recognition of Israel (UN member states); Polity IV Project, University of Maryland, at Polity IV Project; United Nations World Statistics Pocketbook and Statistical Yearbook; CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005; Wikipedia: List of legislatures by number of members; Wikipedia: Term of office (Terms of office by country); World Economic Forum, Global Competiveness Report and data files. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Wikipedia: List of ambassadors to the United States; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2003; Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) (www.ipu.org); World Bank, Enterprise Surveys; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Wikipedia: International recognition of Kosovo (United Nations member states); Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2003. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.

Citation

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